We ran a creative microscopy session with students at the Architectural Association - learning together about soil, and connecting with local trees through leaf mould. We asked, why do leaves change colour in Autumn? who lives in a leaf mould pile? what is leaf mould useful for? what stories would the microbes living on the surface of autumn leaves have to tell us?
Leaf mould is teaming with life: bacteria, fungi, ciliates, nematodes, amoebas and other mysterious creatures are busily breaking things down. If you stick your hand in a pile of leafmould, you can sometimes feel the heat generated by all of this biological activity. It's also one of the easiest kinds of compost you can make. Leaves are a commons, and a valuable resource for community food growing, but they are often bagged up and taken away by private companies contracted by local councils. What are some alternatives?
Students were given a brief to think together and co-design a system / infrastructure / method for responding to leaf mould in urban areas differently. What would you do with this brief? Let us know!
Photo by Far Closer under Creative Commons license